The Beer List: Peach Berliner Weisse by The Dudes’ Brewing Company

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Over the course of 2016, I dove headfirst into an abiding love affair with sour beers, making it a point to try as many as I could find. A straight and obvious line was drawn from my existing predilection towards sour fruit and candy, so in the bars and beer aisles I set my sights on goses and weisses galore. In particular, the Berliner Weisse – born of the German style of brewing that combines wheat, warm-fermented yeasts, citrus fruit and certain bacteria that aids in souring- has risen to the top of my list. Tart, sour, and at the same time malty, the Berliner Weisse is a fantastic choice for those aren’t into the all-out hop game when it comes to their taste in beer. What is also great about this type of beer is that the option to modify it with flavored syrups – often raspberry or lemon – is available, which provides for a sweetness that balances out the tart nature of this unique variety of ale.  Continue reading

Brewery Special: Firestone Walker

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Welcome to the first ever Brewery Special at The No Seatbelt Blog! In lieu of simply reviewing one specially designated beer this week, I will present the details of my visit to Firestone Walker in Los Angeles. With my friends Chris and Jack, I went to the brewery, which also had a restaurant attached to it, for some pre-movie eats and brews. Continue reading

Left Coast Envy

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My recent trip to Southern California, which occurred a full five years after my first visit to the lower portion of the Golden State, has done nothing but strengthen my desire to uproot and replant where the air is warm and the sun never dies. Until August of 2011 , all I had seen of California had been in the movies – the eternal sunshine, the palm trees, the celebrities, the incredible beaches – and I always knew it was a place I would have to see up close one day. When I finally got my chance, I was awestruck. Like a true tourist, I took pictures of everything. I didn’t seem to have enough eyes in my head to take in all that such a magical place had to offer. Continue reading